Southwest Washington is under a flood watch as a strong atmospheric river arrives in the region, according to the National Weather Service in Portland. A wind advisory is also in effect until 4 a.m. Tuesday, with gusts anticipated to reach 45 mph in some areas.

“The big thing with that is not necessarily just the speed but also the fact that we’re having a significant amount of rain. So the rain — dampening the soils, making them nice and loose — combined with the wind can cause widespread tree damage, potentially power outages,” said Rebecca Muessle, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the Portland office.

Safety measures

The weather service encourages residents to travel safely this week.

“When you see flooded roads, bridges, etc., turn around. Don’t drown,” Muessle said. “Ev

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